The Pittsburgh Steelers added cornerback Senquez Golson and offensive tackle Ryan Harris to the team’s injured reserve list, team officials reported on Saturday. The Steelers signed cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz and offensive lineman Matt Feiler to add depth.
Golson and Harris to Pittsburgh Steelers IR List
Shabazz, an undrafted free agent, can see action against the New York Jets. According to starting corner Ross Cockrell, Shabazz received first-team reps all week in preparation for Sunday’s matchup. The Steelers defensive backfield has been depleted by injuries with cornerback Justin Gilbert (knee), safety Robert Golden (hamstring), and of course Golson (foot), all ruled out against the Jets.
Harris suffered a hematoma on his shin in Week 4’s win over Kansas City, which paved the way for Feiler to be promoted from the practice squad. He will serve as the seventh offensive lineman in case of another injury.
Golson and Harris aren’t the only two players on the Steelers IR list. Pittsburgh’s 2015 first round selection Bud Dupree was placed on the injury/reserve list after having abdominal surgery in the offseason.
With the slew of injuries, the Steelers can bring back only one player from IR this season. The NFL and NFLPA amended the injured reserve rule in 2012. Now, one player is able to return to the active roster after being designated on the list. However, in order to return, the player has to be on the active roster for at least eight weeks.
The Steelers will have a tough decision to make in an injury-filled defense.
Steelers will activate either Golson or Dupree
Senquez Golson
Golson was a surprise addition to the injury list because he suffered a Lisfranc injury back in training camp. He has been on the active roster ever since. Either the second-year corner saw setbacks in his rehab or the recent injury to Gilbert pushed the Steelers to shut him down to add Shabazz.
However, this could be the second straight year Golson doesn’t see a regular season snap. In his rookie season last year, he underwent shoulder surgery which kept him out for the entire year. Golson is eligible to return in Week 14 against the Buffalo Bills.
Bud Dupree
Adding Dupree back to the Steelers linebacker core is essential because they are banged up and seemingly without a pass rush. Through the first three games, the Steelers had one sack, until getting four against the Chiefs. Also, they have been without ILB Ryan Shazier (knee), while ILB Lawrence Timmons has played with an apparent shin injury.
The 6-foot-4, 267-pound linebacker is able to return before Golson and Harris because he has been out since Week 1. However, the severity of his injury may keep him out the entire year. The former Kentucky star is rehabbing a sports a hernia and has been out since September 4. He only officially returned to weighting and conditioning last Monday.
In his rookie campaign, Dupree accrued 26 tackles and four sacks in 16 games played and four starts.
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